THE people of Mpika district in Muchinga Province have welcomed President Edgar Lungu’s pronouncement to demarcate the district into three areas to enhance service delivery and bring social services closer to the people.

President Lungu on Tuesday announced that Mpika will be divided into three districts in order to facilitate social service delivery to the people in the area.

Mpika district covers 41,000 square kilometers, making it bigger than the Copperbelt Province. And Muchinga Province permanent secretary Bright Nundwe said people in the areas were excited about the development because it would help to spread development and monitor activities in the area.

“We the people of Muchinga are extremely excited with the pronouncement by President Lungu to declare three more districts in this area. This will make it easier to monitor development and projects in this area,” Mr. Nundwe said.

Mr. Numdwe told the Daily Nation in Mpika that the Patriotic Front government’s desire was to see Muchinga reach the apex of development and reach the status of a province like any other province in Zambia.

“The vision of the Patriotic Front government is that Muchinga Province should reach the apex of development like any other province. In fact we are planning Muchinga Province with modern technology. The development that is taking place in the province is not to beautify the province but to make this province the economic hub of the country,” said Mr. Nundwe.

He asked potential investors to target the province because of the vast natural resources and favorable weather pattern the province was enjoying.

He noted that Muchinga Province had no shopping mall despite having institution like Robert Makasa University nearing completion ahead of commissioning.

Mr. Nundwe said his office was ready to reserve land for anyone willing to invest in farming, animal husbandry and construction.